Hi everyone, I've been lurking on and off for a long time, and now that I'm getting thisclose to pulling the trigger on have sleeve surgery (in Mexico! (gulp!)), I thought I'd better come out into the open and introduce myself. I've been considering this surgery for YEARS.

This board is kind of complicated, and it's easy to get lost in here, like a huge house with lots of different parties going on... lots of mingling.

So, here's the deal. I'm trying to decide between Dr. Kelly and Dr. Ariel Ortiz. Dr. Kelly sounds superb, so does Dr. Ortiz. The difference is about $1100, as far as I can tell (that includes Dr. Kelly fixing a hernia), with Dr. Ortiz being the higher priced surgeon. Dr. Ortiz works out of his own clinic. Dr. Kelly works out of either a hospital (Angeles for $7,000+) or out of Clinica San Juan ($4700).

The reviews for both are very good. Dr. Kelly has 17 years surgical experience plus experience in a trauma center in the US. He's done over 12,000 bariatric surgeries.

Dr. Ortiz's clinic is an "International Center for Excellence," which means they have met all this accreditation criteria set by international committee. This is a good thing as it means certain standards are always in place.

Dr. Oritz was a lap-band specialist, but has been doing sleeves for a number a years now.

Dr. Ortiz has never had a "leak."
Dr. Kelly sutures over the staples.

The staples they use are not from China.

Dr. Oritz - 1 night in clinic, 2 nights post-op in hotel.

Dr. Kelly - 2 nights in clinic, 1 night in post-op hotel

It's really hard to choose!

I'm looking to hear from those of you who have had surgery with either of these fine doctors.

Help! I'd really appreciate your input.

PS, I weigh 280, 5'9", 55 years old.

Thanks!

I am curious, why do so many people go to Mexico to have gastric sleeve/lap band surgeries. I am

always reading posts about surgery in Mexico. Why not have it done in the states?

I am cash pay and going to Mexico saved me about $10,000. On top of that I got excellent care.

Why Mexico ?

I had mine done in New Jersey unless you live there ? Sorry I just don't get it, I don't mean to sound like I'm talking down to anyone I mean this with all do respect I'm just curious do they do something different there that's not allowed here in the states ? Please only cause I'm curious and no other reason / no hiding agenda

I was originally going to have mine done in Dallas. So here's how that went.... Call and schedule an appointment get one two weeks out. Then get evaluated by staff. They schedule my pre-op blood work for a week away. It takes two weeks for the surgeon to get the results. Surgeons office calls to schedule to finally see a surgeon and the soonest was a month out. I asked the lady once I see the surgeon and he agrees, how long before I get to have the procedure. She says a month to six weeks. I have no co-morbidities.

Schedule with BariatricPal. I ask about it, someone sends me a link. I click the link and there are two forms for fill out. I fill out the first and send it. While reading the second form my phone rings. It was David Lopez. Very professional. Very courteous. He answers my barrage of questions. I finish filling out the second form. Within 24 hours the surgeon I want to use calls me and answers my questions and offers to skype with me. I decide to do the procedure, I call David back and I am schedule for 4 weeks out. It could have been sooner but I wanted a few weeks to get off carbs and a few other bad habits.

When I was there my experience was amazing! Got picked up at the airport and taken to the recovery house. The doctor came to see me the evening before and answer my questions and explained in detail what would happen. I was taken wherever I needed or wanted to go. The hospital was great. The staff was great. And Dr Jesus Martin Lopez did such an amazing job that I was hardly sore and very little bruising.

Oh and I forgot to mention that the nutritionist Skype with me for over an hour before my surgery and set me on the right path for my pre-op diet. The entire staff that I dealt with while I was there included 7 staff, 5 doctors, anesthesiologist and amazing nurses... Karen and Aldo in particular were great!

Wow that sounds like a really good experience , that's so great !! I hope your doing well ,

My doctor is in the US, he's American.. But was partially trained in Mexico & as far as I know even did surgeries there. So far I've had zero complications-I'm 3 weeks out. I'd definitely go there if insurance didn't cover it & they were well known.

Btw-I had staples, then glue & strips.. Outwardly I healed in like under 2 weeks (I'm also a diabetic, but my numbers went normal immediately-so healing was a dream) as far as I know I'm still healing inwardly..

Hi Chanel22...can you tell me which doctor you went to?